Dear Dan,

I know that you are working your tail off in Michigan right now, but missing us terribly. Especially since this has been an odd week, with 4 days of no power at our house and all the frustrations that have come because of that darkness...the hour drive to daycare, having to live with my parents while they were watching Sophia's cousins while THEIR parents are probably sitting around Italy in togas, drinking wine, and having long conversations about Michelangelo, Sophia being bitch slapped by her cousin Ellie, me being bitch slapped by all the feelings that my parents seem to draw out of me when I am around them in their intolerant stage...however, now there is light in our house, thank goodness, but I am missing the light I feel when you are here.

Happy 7th Anniversary, by the way. We did get a good opportunity to celebrate this past weekend when you were here. On our actual anniversary, Monday, the power was already out, and you brought me Starbucks and Sophia a BIG DOUGHNUT, and you have no idea what a gift that was. Thank you.

I just need to fill you in on a realization that struck me tonight. Somehow you, a chronic cynic, and me, a chronic melancholy, have given life to a child of pure joy. Tonight we spent a good half hour running at each other and falling on the floor in fits of giggles. But we missed you. And we will miss you tomorrow. We went outside for a while because she wanted to hug the car. Hug the car? I can't open the garage, by the way...any suggestions?

On my way home to check to see if the power was on I drove through Baskin Robins to get Sophia a grilled cheese and a chocolate milkshake, because I was almost sure that everything in our refrigerator was growing something that you studied in Microbiology 101. During Sophia's nap, I finished that milkshake because I rationalized that I deserved it. When she woke up, it was the first thing she asked for, and I was all, "no, it is all gone, remember? You drank it."
Lies, lies, lies. She looked me up and down, and I swear she noticed my bloated, lactose-intolerant belly, because she talked about that milkshake all day.

Tonight, as we were reading books, my lactose-intolerance made itself apparent, shall we say?...and our daughter got up, brought me a diaper and asked if I needed her to change me. She is on to me, that one. Lesson learned: Don't steal her milkshake.

Anyway, we would have had a good laugh. I can't wait to see you so I can share some more of that laughter with our tiny goddess of joy.

We Love you.